Our legends?

Being an early millennial, or even better a Gen X, we have been hashtag blessed to have been alive during a time of legendary musical legends. From, Prince, to Queen, to Bowie, to Whitney Houston (no haters welcome), to Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, MICHAEL JACKSON, Elton John, The Stones, The Boss, Billy Joel (don’t judge me music snobs), The Beatles (but as individual artists), Kurt Cobain and NWA, as well as many that I’ve forgotten, we were lucky enough to have lived during the time of true musical artistry and evolution. Obviously, we missed some great ones as a bunch died before we were born. That said, we were also obviously set up to fail financially of course. From massive student debt, to unaffordable housing, to f-ing free internships (aka. slave labour), to salaries not increasing to match inflation and to mass layoffs amongst record profits quarter after quarter. I mean we can’t win them all. But musically, we sure hit the Powerball!

Many of these artists, were ambidextrous when it came to their musical prowess. They could rock out on a guitar solo, sing with the voice of an angel and then hunker down on the piano like it’s nobody’s business. While others had the ability to hear an entire orchestra in their head and could bring forward the best in anyone they worked with. Their stage presence and performance abilities were next to none. And the others, they were essentially ground-breaking in bringing a new kind of angry music to the masses that were able to connect with younger generations and inspire them to follow in their path.

But as all these artists die off (sorry guys but many of you are old AF and you’ve done more drugs than we can imagine), who will be left? Who are today’s legends? The one’s who are so musically in tune and god damn talented that they could fill Wembley Stadium on a bad day in their prime and on any day in their sunset of their lives. Who’s music from the last few years will stand the test of time?

The thing is guys, I LOVE POP music. I really do. I could listen to T-Swift and Katy Perry all day long no matter their distain for one another. But can they compare to the likes of Freddy Mercury, Prince or Bowie? Not. Even. Close. First of all, who wrote their songs, like their entire songs? I’m pretty sure it was an army of music scientists. Second of all, in 30 years, will I really feel like Firework is one of the best songs ever written? I strongly doubt it. Let’s go even deeper, here are the weekly number ones for 2016:

January 16: “Stressed Out” – Twenty One Pilots – I’ve never even heard of these guys. When we were kids, the top songs were loved by people in their 30’s as much as their children, and as much as the teenagers. There’s nothing that brings us together anymore.

February 6: “Roses” – The Chainsmokers featuring Rozes – Again, I’m so out of touch.

February 13: “My House” – Flo Rida, “Hands to Myself” – Selena Gomez, “Work” – Rihanna featuring Drake – Seriously? In 20 years will we remember these as ground-breaking or game changing? Did any of them write the music behind their songs?

April 23: “Panda” – Desiigner – Not. A. Chance (And on that note, what’s with that extra “i”. Give it up already. It’s like naming a kid Alison and spelling it Elyyshen.

And I’m not discrediting how much one can enjoy listening to these songs. I mean during the 80’s and 90’s we also got to listen to Karma Chameleon. But what I’m saying is where has the musical genius gone? It’s completely disappeared. What’s that all about?

So today, the day after we lost the musical God known as Prince or as a symbol or as the artist formally known as Prince, the man who brought us a little red corvette, a beret the colour of raspberries and the seven that we watched fall, we can rest knowingly that he’s up there looking down on us, as he should. Because the geniuses have gone missing.